Panthers Travel to SLO for Coast vs Valley Challenge

Under a unique format pitting four community colleges from the Central Valley versus three from the Coast region, the Coast vs Valley Challenge created a very fun, relaxed, but competitive event for the Hartnell College Track & Field team. The men were able to improve on one State "A" and  produce two State "B" qualifying marks along with making improvements to the conference and regional championships. As a squad, the men placed second overall to Modesto JC for the second score meet this season.

In the men's 3k steeplechase, Francisco Maciel narrowly missed the State "A" mark but posted a lifetime and season best 9:55.34. The mark moves him to second best in Northern California and should surely advance Maciel to his first track championship for the Panthers. The mark also moves him into the top 20 all-time in the unique event combining 28 barriers and seven water jumps. Placing second was freshman Daniel Pantoja who debuted in the event in 10:08.97 which meets the regional qualifying mark. Freshman Isaac Gensel lowered his Hartnell 1500m best to 3:58.90 to place second and also improving on his State "A". Gensel also placed second in the 800m with a regional provisional mark 1:59.58, and second in the 3000m 8:57.26. King City graduate Ashton Headley met the State "B" mark in the shot put with his new best of 13.98m (45-10.50). Headley moves into the top 20 all-time and will look to become just the nineteenth thrower ever to shot put beyond 14 meters. 

Other highlights of the meet included a season best 400 and 200 meters by Jesse Mandujano in 51.41 and 23.37. a season best 400mIH by freshman Ramon Duran at 1:00.82, Esteban Deniz winning the 3000 meters in 8:54.19, Eduardo Martinez pole vaulting 3.38m (11-1.00) for the first time in his career, Orlando Dorado's shot put 10.69m (35-1.00), Andy Ruiz in the discus with a new best 34.27 (112-5.00), and Hugo Chayres reaching 34.63m (113-7.00) in the hammer. 

The Panthers will have be busy next week competing in multiple locations as they look for post-conference marks and season bests at the Chabot Invitational, Stanford Invitational, and Mike Fanelli Classic.